Railing assembly

ABSTRACT

A railing assembly and method of forming same having a hand rail, shoe rail, and a plurality of spaced, parallel balusters secured at their respective upper and lower ends to resilient straps received and fixed in plows formed in the hand rail and shoe rail. The respective upper and lower ends of each baluster are arcuately shaped allowing the balusters to be moved to any angular orientation with respect to the rails while maintaining the balusters parallel to each other with the ends of the balusters being in contact with the straps.

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PATENT APPLICATION

This patent application is a Continuation-In-Part Application of pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/293,550 in the name of G. StephenJohnstonbaugh for RAILING ASSEMBLY.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to a railing assembly such as those used forstairs and landings found in dwellings, and to methods of forming theassemblies.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Railings for stars and landings of dwellings such as residences arewell-known and have been used for as long as there have been suchdwellings. Typically, the railings have included a hand rail, shoe railand vertical, parallels spaced balusters

secured at their respective ends to the hand rail and shoe rail. In someinstances the railings are installed piece by piece in the dwelling,usually by a craftsman skilled and experienced in making suchinstallations. More recent designs are railing assemblies prefabricatedand installed in place as a unit on the stairs or landings. Typically, aprefabricated railing is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,283 whichmakes referenceto railing designs disclosed in various other U.S. patents. Theprefabricated railing assemblies, in order to be installed, are requiredto accommodate stair steps of different pitches, that is the anglebetween the inclination of the stairs and the horizontal planes of thefloor surfaces below and above the stairs. The various designs ofrailing assemblies referred to in the aforementioned patents attempt toprovide railing units useable for any stair design.

There are problems inherent in the known railing assembly designs. Whilethe designs are useable where stair constructions are ideal andvirtually perfect they are complex in their respective arrangements andmake no provisions for stair constructions that are not perfect, as forexample, where the stair pitch might differ several degrees from theintended pitch. The prefabricated railing assembly might be constructedfor a stair having a pitch of 33 degrees while the stair, though lessthan ideal in construction, might have a pitch slightly less or morethan the desired 33 degrees. In such instances the balusters would beoff the vertical plane of each by the same degree the angle of thestairs varies from the intended pitch.

Another problem inherent in the known railing assembly designs is thatthey generally make no provision for a straight rail, such as would beused on a horizontal landing or balcony. The adjustable rail assemblydisclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,283, for all practical purposes,would not be used in a balcony installation because the cost of therailing assembly would be overly high. Also, the structural integrity ofthe railing assembly would be compromised due to the reduced support ofthe balusters by the hand rail and shoe rail.

The problems inherent in the known railing assemblies are open to simplesolutions and no solutions are offered by those skilled in the railingconstruction art.

The present invention overcome the problems existing in the knownrailing arrangement by providing a simply designed and effective railingassembly readily usable on stairs and landings such as balconies. Theassembly is configured to accommodate stairs where the pitch might be atan angle different from the desired pitch of the stairs. The angle ofthe balusters of the railing assembly of the present invention may beadjusted over a wide range of angles and at any angle within that range.With the present invention adjusting the baluster angle for maintainingparallelism of the balusters will not compromise the structuralintegrity of the railing assembly. The adjusting of the baluster angleis achieved simply without need of replacing or changing any parts ofthe railing assembly. In addition to the simple angle adjustability ofthe railing assembly of the present invention, its general design isadapted to a structurally sound straight railing commonly called abalcony rail. Additionally, the railing assembly of the presentinvention eliminates the need of any external fasteners of the balustersto the rails as well as exposed fasteners for the shoe rail providingsmooth, quality installation without need for puttying or such like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a railing assembly and method of formingthe assembly, the assembly in its preferred and general form includingan elongated hand rail; and elongated shoe rail; a resilient first straphaving a sinusoidal cross-section shape in engagement with at least thehand rail at the lower portion or underside thereof for impressing aforce in the direction of the hand rail. There are also a plurality ofspaced balusters, each having at least their upper end sections inengagement with both the strap and underside of the hand rail. Thebalusters have their lower sections in engagement with upper portions ofthe shoe rail.

A specific form of the railing assembly has the hand rail and shoe railprovided with similarly shaped, longitudinally extending plows eachhaving generally centrally disposed channels and opposed shoulders belowthe channel in the hand rail and above the channel in respective railsand balusters. A typical shape of the resilient strap would be a wave,arcuate, or sinusoidal cross-section shape where the strap would be inthe nature of a spring hinge, the portion of a spring hinge, theportions of strap engaging the upper or lower ends, respectively, of thebaluster would impress forces in the direction of the hand rail and shoerail. The upper and lower ends of the balusters are arcuately shaped andsecured to the straps with the opposite sides of the lower and upperends of the balusters engaging the shoulders of the respective plows ofthe shoe rail and hand rail. The straps are secured to the upper andlower arcuately shaped ends of the balusters and are also secured to therespective lower section of the hand rail and upper section of the shoerail and as such impress a significant tension between the straps attheir fixed points to the hand rail and shoe rail and to the balustersat their fixed points, overall creating what would be recognized asspring hinges. The straps, hand rail, the upper and lowerarcuately-shaped ends of the balusters are sized, shaped andinterconnected such that a rocker plate-rocker rail assembly is definedto allow an infinitely adjustable range of motion between thelongitudinal axes of the balusters and the longitudinal axes of the handrail and shoe rail allowing adjustment from the design centerpoint ofthe railing assembly to any positive or negative degree of anglerequired to conform to any preexisting stair assembly to emplace thebalusters in true vertical orientation. Also, the forces impressed bythe straps draw the balusters into secure and strong engagement with therails. In summary, the arcuately shaped lower and upper ends of thebalusters are arranged in a manner of the engagement of the balusterswith the straps and rails permit the arcuate or angular adjustment ororientation of the balusters with respect to the hand rail and shoerail, while maintaining engagement with the straps and rails and notdeforming the straps. Also, the defined rocker plate-rocker railassembly would be fully concealed so as not to be visible even uponclose inspection of the final rail assembly. The balusters may also besecured, as by nailing, to the straps. Although not vital to the presentinvention, filets are preferably disposed over the plows between thebalusters.

The basic structure of the railing assembly of the present invention issimple in construction, relatively inexpensive to produce, uncomplicatedand efficient in its use. It is also structurally strong and sound,meeting any building code requirements. The railing assembly isadaptable to straight or balcony rails and is exceptionally effective asa rail for stairs of varying pitch angles including stairs that are atpitch angles varying from their specified angle.

Various other advantages, details, and modifications of the presentinvention will become apparent as the following descriptions of certainpreferred embodiments and certain preferred methods producing theinvention proceed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings I show certain present preferredembodiments of my invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a straight railing commonly called abalcony rail as it would be installed on a level floor;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed elevational view, partly in crosssection, of a portion of the balcony rail of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are partial sectional views of the hand rail and shoerail of my invention with parts separated to show details ofconstruction;

FIG. 3 is a view looking along the line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 A is a partial sectional view of the hand rail of FIG. 3 withparts separated to show details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a view looking along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4B is a partial sectional view of the shoe rail of FIG. 4 withparts separated to show details of construction;

FIG. 5 is front elevational view of a railing assembly commonly called astair rail as it would be installed to a flight of stairs;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed elevational view, partly in crosssection, of a portion of the stair rail of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view looking along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view looking along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of one baluster of the presentinvention showing the curved or arcuate shapes of the end sectionsthereof;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the same baluster of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a reduced in size side elevational view of the stair rail ofFIG. 5, diagrammatically representing the pitch range of the stair rail.

DESCRIPTIONS OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and specifically to FIGS. 1-4B, there isshown a railing assembly 10 embodying my present invention. Railingassembly 10 is a straight railing, which would be commonly known as abalcony rail. Railing assembly 10 includes an elongated shoe rail 12 ofany well known cross-sectional shape, having formed through its uppersection a recessed, longitudinally extending plow 14 shaped and sized tosnugly receive the lower end sections of any desired number oflongitudinally spaced parallel balusters 16 of any well-known shapes andsizes. The lower ends of the balusters 16 are secured to the shoe rail12 by any suitable fasteners such as staples or nails 19. The undersideof the shoe rail 12 is provided with oppositely disposed, parallel,longitudinally extending slots 15 and 17 suitably sized to receiveadhesive strips 21 for serving to initially secure the shoe rail 12 andassembly 10 to the surface of floor 23. The plow 14 is provided withoppositely disposed, longitudinally extending shoulders 25 and 27 uponwhich the bottom ends of the balusters 16 abut.

The railing assembly 10 also includes an elongated hand rail 20 of anywell known cross-sectional shape, having formed through its lower orunderside a longitudinally extended plow 22 having a steppedconfiguration defined by a centrally disposed channel 24 and opposedlydisposed shoulders 26 and 29 below the channel 24. An elongatedgenerally flat strap 30 having a generally sinusoidal cross-sectionshape as shown formed of a resilient metallic or non-metallic materialis arranged in the channel 24 and secured as shown to the underside ofthe hand rail 20 by any suitable fasteners such as staples or nails 32.The strap 30 may be segmented rather than being singular and continuous.

The upper ends of the balusters 16 are secured to the strap 30 as shownby any suitable fasteners such as staples or nails 34. The opposingsides of the upper end sections of the balusters 16 firmly engage theopposed shoulders 26 and 29 of plow 22. The resilient strap 30 impressesa force on the balusters 16 in the direction of the hand rail 20providing a strong and positive mating of the balusters 16 to the handrail 20, with the upper ends of the balusters 16 being in engagementwith the strap 30. The arrangement of the balusters 16 with the strap 30and hand rail 20 puts the balusters 16 in tension with the hand rail 20,without the need of using any toe nails or other external fasteners,resulting in a stronger arrangement of balusters and hand rail then thatof balusters toe nailed to a hand rail.

Although not vital to the substance of the railing assembly 10 of myinvention, filets 37 would be suitably secured over the plows 14 and 22between the spaced balusters 16. Each filet 37 has a centrally disposedchannel 39 sized to receive the head of lag bolts 41 and used to securethis shoe rail 12 and assembly 10 to the floor 23.

Referring again to the drawings and specifically to FIGS. 5-11, there isshown an adjustable stair railing assembly 40 embodying my presentinvention. Railing assembly 40 is typically what is commonly known as astair rail, and includes an elongated hand rail 42 of any well-knowncross-sectional shape. Hand rail 42 has formed through its lower sectionor underside a longitudinally extending plow 44 having a steppedconfiguration defined by a centrally disposed channel 46 and opposedshoulders 48 and 49 below the channel 46. An elongated, generally flatmonolithic strap 50 having a generally sinusoidal cross-section shape asshown formed of a resilient metallic or non-metallic material isarranged in the channel 46 and secured as shown to the underside of thehand rail 42 by any suitable fasteners such as staples or nails 52. Thesize and shape of plow 44 and the arrangement of the strap 50 in plow 44is similar to that of the railing assembly 10, described hereinabove.The strap 50 may be segmented rather then being singular and continuous.As clearly shown in FIG. 6, the strap 50 is arcuately or sinusoidallyshaped in cross-section, the significance of its shape been described indetail hereinafter.

Railing assembly 40 includes any desired number of longitudinally spacedparallel balusters 56 of any well-known shapes and sizes. Each upper end58 of the balusters 56 is arcuately shaped, typically at a radius ofabout 12 inches on a 1¼ inch wide baluster end. Each baluster 56 issecured to and in engagement with the strap 50 as shown by any suitablemeans such as staples or nails 60, with the opposing sides of the upperend sections of each baluster 56 in firm engagement with the opposingshoulders 48 and 49 of plow 44.

The railing assembly also includes an elongated shoe rail 70 of any wellknown shape. Similarly to hand rail 42, the shoe rail 70 has formedthrough its upper section a similarly shaped longitudinally extendingplow 72 having a stepped construction defined by a centrally disposedchannel 74 and opposed shoulders 76 and 77 above the channel 74. Also,similarly to the hand rail 42 and strap 50, a similarly shaped elongatedgenerally monolithic flat strap 78 having a generally sinusoidalcross-section shape formed of a resilient metallic or non-metallicmaterial is arranged in channel 74 and secured to the upper section ofshoe rail 70 as shown by any suitable means such as staples or nails 81.As with the strap 50 described hereinabove with respect to hand rail 42,the strap 78 may be segmented rather than being singular and continuous.Similarly to strap 50, strap 78, as stated, is arcuately or sinusoidallyshaped in cross-section having the same function with respect tobalusters 56, as strap 50 has with respect to baluster 56.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 each lower end 80 of the baluster 56 isarcuately shaped at essentially the same radius as the arc of the upperend 58 of each baluster 56, with the arc of each lower end 80 being in aplane 180 degrees opposite the plane of the arc of the upper end 58.Each baluster 56 is secured to, and in engagement with the strap 78 asshown by any suitable means such as staples or nails 82, with theopposing sides of the lower end section of each baluster in firmengagement with the opposing shoulders 76 and 77 of the plow 72.

The assembly and the arrangement of the strap 50 to the hand rail 42 andto the upper arcuately-shaped ends of the balusters 56, and the assemblyand arrangement of the strap 78 to the shoe rail 70 and to the lower,arcuately-shaped ends of balusters 56 create a significant tensionbetween the respective straps 50 and 78 at their fixed points to thehand rail 42 and shoe rail 70 and the balusters 56 at their fixedpoints. The significant forces impressed in the assembly of the strap 50and 78, hand rail 42, shoe rail 70, and the balusters create what wouldbe recognized as spring hinges. The spring hinges between the balusters56 and the respective hand rail 42 and shoe rail 70 form rocker railsand serve to retain and seat the straps 50 and 78 on the arcuatelyshaped respective ends of the balusters 56, the arcuately shaped endsserving as rocker plates. The assembly of the straps 50 and 78, thearcuately-shaped ends of the balusters (that is, rocker rails), and thehand rail 42 and shoe rail create a rocker plate-rocker rail assembly.The combined rocker plate-rocker rail assemblies create an infinitelyadjustable range of motion between the longitudinal axes of thebalusters 56 and the longitudinal axes of the hand rail 42 and shoe rail70. The infinitely adjustable range of motion of the balusters 56, handrail 42 and shoe rail 70 allows adjustment from the design centerpointof the assembly 40 to any positive or negative degree of angle requiredto conform to any preexisting stair assembly to emplace the baluster 56in true vertical orientation. Each said rocker plate-rocker railassembly operate smoothly throughout its range of motion because it iscomprised of interacting elements composed of similar materials thatwould operate against each other with no interference from or dependenceupon the performance of any deformable mechanical means or on balusters56 close to but spaced from opposed surfaces to perform the adjusting ofthe angle of the balusters, nor is a rocker plate-rocker rail assemblylimited to small acute angles. Also, the rocker-plate-rocker railassemblies, that is, the assemblies of the straps 50 and 75,arcuately-shaped ends of the balusters 56, hand rail 42, and shoe rail70, would be fully concealed so as not to be visible even upon closeinspection of the final assembly 40.

As with shoe rail 12 of assembly 10, the underside of shoe rail 70 isprovided with oppositely disposed, parallel, longitudinally extendingslots 90 and 91 suitably sized to receive adhesive strips 92 and 93 forserving to initially secure the shoe rail 70 and assembly 40 to thesurface of a rake wall 95.

As suggested hereinabove, the shapes, sizes, configurations of the partsand elements of the railing assembly 40, allows the balusters 56 to havethe longitudinal axes of each to be selectively adjusted with respect tothe longitudinal axes of the hand rail 42 and shoe rail 70, whilemaintaining engagement of the upper end 58 and lower end 80 of eachbaluster 56 with the straps 50 and 78, and shoulders 48 and 49 andshoulders 76 and 77, respectively. Typically, the railing assembly 40may be produced to be a adjusted between 33 degrees and 43 degrees to ahorizontal plane, as shown in FIG. 11, the typical pitches of stairs inresidential dwellings. Oftentimes because of rough carpentryconstruction the pitch of the stairs is not exactly at either 33 degreesor 43 degrees. When such is the case, the railing assembly 40 of thepresent invention may be adjusted by simply moving the balusters 56 byurging them together by pushing or pulling on the hand rail 42 until thebalusters 56 are in a common vertical plane. Any angular variation ofthe pitch of the stairs from the desired pitch will be compensated forby the adjustment to the variation of the baluster 56 as described.

As with the shape, size, and construction of the elements of railingassembly 10 described above and as previously stated, the resilientstraps 50 and 78, also impress forces in the direction of hand rail 42and shoe rail 70, respectively on balusters 56 providing a strong andpositive mating of the balusters 52 to the hand rail 42 and shoe rail70. Thus, the balusters 56 are in tension with hand rail 42 and shoerail 70 without the need of using any toe nails or other externalfasteners, resulting in a stronger arrangement of balusters and railsthan that of balusters toe nailed to rails.

Although not vital to the substance of the railing assembly 40 of myinvention, filets 96 would be secured over the plows 44 and 72 of handrail 42 and shoe rail 70, respectively. Each filet 96 has a centrallydisposed channel 97 sized to receive the head of a lag bolt 99 used tosecure the shoe rail 70 and assembly 10 to a rake wall 95.

The method of forming the balcony railing assembly 10 would be by firstsecuring the balusters 16 in spaced parallel arrangement to each otherto the top of the shoe rail 12; installing the strap 30 to the top ofthe baluster 16 in tension, installing the strap 30 into plow 22 of thehand rail 20; engaging the top section of the balusters 16 in the plow22 to the strap 30 and in abutment to the shoulders 26 of the plow 22whereby the strap 30 impresses a force on each baluster 16 in directionof the hand rail 20. The method of forming the adjustable railingassembly 40 would be by first arranging the balusters 56 in a spacedgenerally parallel relationship; securing strap 50 in tension to theupper ends 58 of the balusters 56; securing strap 78 in tension to thelower ends 80 of the balusters 56; arranging the lower ends 80 of thebalusters 56 into the plow 72 of the shoe rail 70; arranging the upperends 58 of the balusters 56 56 into the plow 44 of the hand rail 42;securing the strap 50 to the hand rail 42; securing strap 78 to the shoerail 70. The steps of the method of forming the adjustable railingassembly 40 and railing assembly 10 may be reversed to achieve the sameresults as by the methods described above. In each instance the methodsdescribed result in assemblies having the characteristics and functionsof the physical railing assemblies 10 and 40, as described hereinabove.

It should now be clearly apparent as to the new results and advantagesof the railing assembly of this invention as set forth in theintroductory section of this specification. In addition, the basicstructure of the railing assembly is simple in construction, relativelyinexpensive to produce, and uncomplicated, efficient and effective inits use. The assembly is modifiable in various ways, for example in thematerial of the straps, the manner of securing the balusters, and theshape and size of the plows. Also, the methods of producing theassemblies may vary by different sequence of the steps.

While I have shown and described present preferred embodiments of thisinvention and method of producing the invention, it is to be distinctlyunderstood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may beotherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. An adjustable railing assembly having a design centerpoint for useson a preexisting stair assembly, comprising: an elongated hand rail; anelongated shoe rail a first resilient strap means secured to the lowerportion of said hand rail for impressing a force in the direction ofsaid hand rail; a second resilient strap means secured to the upperportion of said shoe rail for impressing a force in the direction ofsaid shoe rail; a plurality of spaced balusters, each having an upperend section in engagement with said first strap means and a lower endsection in engagement with said second strap means; the lower endsection of each said balusters having an arcuate shape permittingselective arcuate orientation of said lower end sections with thesurface of said second strap means; the upper end section of each saidbalusters having an arcuate shape on a plane 180 degrees opposite to theplane of the arc of said lower end section permitting selective arcuateorientation of said upper end sections with the surface said first strapmeans; each of said lower and upper ends sections of each of saidbalusters being shaped and sized such that to be in engagement with saidfirst and second straps means at any selected arcuate orientationthereof; said first and second strap means, said hand rail, said shoerail, said upper and lower arcuately-shaped ends of said balusters beingsized and shaped and interconnected such that a rocker plate-rocker railassembly is defined allowing an infinitely adjustable range of motionbetween the longitudinal axes of said balusters and longitudinal axes ofsaid hand rail and said shoe rail allowing adjustment from the designcenterpoint of the railing assembly to any positive or negative degreeof angle required to conform to any preexisting stair assembly toemplace said baluster in generally true vertical orientation; andwherein the angle of the longitudinal axes of said balusters areselectively adjustable with respect to the longitudinal axes of saidhand rail and step rail while maintaining engagement of said upper andlower end sections with said first and second straps means respectively.2. An adjustable railing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidarcuate shapes of said upper end section and lower end section havesubstantially the same radius of arc.
 3. An adjustable railing assemblyas set forth in claim 1 wherein said lower portion of said hand rail hasa recessed first plow sized and shaped to receive said first strap meansand said upper portion of said shoe rail has a recessed second plowsized and shaped to receive said second strap means.
 4. An adjustablerailing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first strap meansand said second strap means are similarly shaped, each having agenerally sinusoidal cross-sectional shape.
 5. An adjustable railingassembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said arcuate shapes ofsaid upper end section and lower end section has a radius of arc ofabout 12 inches.
 6. An adjustable railing assembly as set forth in claim1 wherein said first and second straps are generally flat.
 7. Anadjustable railing assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said firstand second straps are non-metallic.
 8. An adjustable railing assembly asset forth in claim 1 including securing means for fixing said first andsecond strap means to said lower portion of said hand rail and upperportion of said shoe rail, respectively.
 9. An adjustable railingassembly as set forth in claim 1 including fixing means for securingsaid first and second straps means to said lower portions and upperportions of said balusters, respectively.
 10. An adjustable railingassembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said upper end section of eachsaid balusters is shaped and sized to be snugly received in said firstplow and said lower end section of each said balusters is shaped andsized to be snugly received in said second plow.
 11. An adjustablerailing assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first plow asdefined by a longitudinally extending centrally disposed first channeland longitudinally extending opposed first shoulders below firstchannel; wherein each of said balusters have the opposite sides portionsof their upper ends in engagement with the opposed said first shoulders;and said first strap means is received in said first channel.
 12. Anadjustable railing assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said secondplow is defined by a longitudinally extending centrally disposed secondchannel and longitudinally extending opposed second shoulders above saidsecond channel, wherein each of said balusters of their lower ends inengagement with the opposed second shoulders; and said second strapmeans is received in said second channel.
 13. A railing assembly,comprising: an elongated hand rail; an elongated shoe rail; resilientfirst strap means having a generally sinusoidal cross-sectional shape inengagement with at least said hand rail at the lower portion thereof forimpressing a force in the direction of said hand rail; a plurality ofspaced balusters, each having at least upper end sections thereof inengagement with said first strap means and in engagement with the lowerportion of said hand rail; and said balusters having their lower ends inengagement with the upper portion of said shoe rail.
 14. A railingassembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said lower portion of saidhand rail defines a longitudinally extending first plow having agenerally centrally disposed first channel and opposed first shouldersbelow said first channel; wherein each of said balusters have theopposite side portions of their upper ends in engagement with theopposed said first strap means is received in said first channel.
 15. Arailing assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said shoe rail definesa longitudinally extending second plow having a generally centrallydisposed second channel and opposed second shoulders above said secondchannel; wherein each of said balusters have the opposite side portionsof their lower ends in engagement with the opposed said secondshoulders; including a resilient second strap means having a generallysinusoidal cross-section shape for impressing a force in the directionof said shoe rail and received in said second channel and in engagementwith lower end sections of said balusters.
 16. A railing assembly as setforth in claim 15 wherein the lower end section of each said balustersis in engagement with said second strap means with said lower sectionshaving an arcuate shape permitting arcuate orientation of said lowersections with and on the surface of said second strap means; wherein theupper end sections of each said baluster has an arcuate shape on a plane180 degree opposite to and parallel with the plane of the arc of saidlower end section permitting selective arcuate orientation of said upperend sections with and on said first strap means.
 17. A railing assemblyas set forth in claim 16 including fixing means for recurring said firstand second strap means to said lower portions and upper portions of saidbalusters, respectively, and securing means for fixing said first andsecond strap means to said hand rails and said shoe rail respectively.18. A method of forming a railing assembly having a hand rail, shoerail, a resilient strap, and a plurality of balusters, comprising thesteps of; securing the balusters in spaced relationship to each other tothe top of the shoe rail by fastener means extending through the bottomof the shoe rail into the lower end of the balusters; installing thestrap onto the tops of the balusters; and engaging the top of thebaluster sections with the lower portion of the hand rail inrelationship to the strap such that the strap impresses a force on thebalusters in the direction of the hand rail.
 19. A method of forming anadjustable railing assembly having a hand rail, shoe rail, resilientstraps, and a plurality of balusters each having arcuately shaped upperand lower end sections, comprising the steps of; arranging balusters inspaced generally parallel relationship; securing a first strap intension to the upper end portions of the balusters; securing a secondstrap in tension to the lower end portions of the balusters; arrangingthe lower ends of the balusters onto upper portions of the shoe rail;arranging the upper ends of the balusters onto the lower portion of thehand rail; fixing the second strap to the shoe rail in a position belowthe position of the lower ends of the balusters such that a force in thedirection of the shoe rail is impressed on the balusters; fixing thefirst strap to the hand rail in a position above the position of theupper ends of the balusters such that a force in the direction of thehand rail is impressed on the balusters; and said steps being performedsuch that the balusters may be selectively arcuately oriented withrespect to the hand rail and shoe rail while maintaining the spacing ofthe balusters in generally, parallel